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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #336394

Research Project: Systems Approach for Managing Emerging Insect Pests and Insect-Transmitted Pathogens of Potatoes

Location: Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research

Title: Association of potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli; Hemiptera: Triozidae) with Lycium spp. (Solanaceae) in potato growing regions of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon

Author
item THINAKARAN, JENITA - University Of Idaho
item Horton, David
item Cooper, William - Rodney
item JENSEN, ANDREW - Washington State Potato Foundation
item WOHLEB, CARRIE - Washington State University
item DAHAN, JENNIFER - University Of Idaho
item MUSTAFA, TARIQ - Washington State University
item KARASEV, ALEXANDER - University Of Idaho
item Munyaneza, Joseph - Joe

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2017
Publication Date: 4/17/2017
Citation: Thinakaran, J., Horton, D.R., Cooper, W.R., Jensen, A., Wohleb, C., Dahan, J., Mustafa, T., Karasev, A., Munyaneza, J.E. 2017. Association of potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli; Hemiptera: Triozidae) with Lycium spp. (Solanaceae) in potato growing regions of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. American Journal of Potato Research. 94(5):490-499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-017-9586-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-017-9586-0

Interpretive Summary: Zebra chip, an economically important disease of potato in the United States, is vectored by the potato psyllid. Researchers at USDA-ARS Wapato in Washington, in collaboration with scientists from Washington State University, University of Idaho and the potato industry in the Pacific Northwest, have determined that matrimony vine, a perennial plant related to potato, hosts potato psyllid at all times of year. It was discovered that psyllid numbers drop substantially on matrimony vine in mid-summer, at the same time that potato psyllid begins to arrive in potato fields, and this has prompted researchers to suggest that psyllids are arriving in potato following dispersal from matrimony vine. This information will help potato growers minimize damage due to zebra chip by allowing them to better predict when and in what potato fields the psyllid is likely to first arrive during the growing season.

Technical Abstract: Potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc), is a vector of the bacterium that causes zebra chip disease of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). When cultivated crops are not available, potato psyllid may often be found on non-crop hosts within the Solanaceae. This study determined that species of Lycium (Solanaceae) are important hosts of potato psyllid in the Pacific Northwest. We sampled Lycium spp. at 24 locations in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, and found adult potato psyllids at all locations. Flower and leaf characteristics identified the shrubs as a mix of two non-native species, Lycium barbarum L. and Lycium chinense Mill. Psyllid populations included a mixture of Northwestern and Western haplotypes. Analysis of DNA extracted from 1654 psyllids revealed that none of the insects carried the zebra chip pathogen. Five sites in Washington were monitored at regular intervals from June 2014 to June 2016 to document seasonal occurrence of psyllids. Psyllids were present on Lycium throughout the year at all sites. We observed well-defined spring and fall peaks in psyllid numbers, with peaks separated by intervals in which psyllids were very difficult to collect. Our findings indicate that potato psyllid is associated with Lycium across a broad geographic region within the Pacific Northwest. These results will assist in predicting sources of potato psyllid colonizing potatoes in this important growing region.